Looking for a cheap mountain bike

fisky wrote:

A running friend is looking for a used bike for her daughter and has asked me to find it. She wants a straight handlebar bike, so either a mountain bike or a hybrid. The mom rides a 10 year old entry level Trek with an iffy front shock and loves it, so the bar is set pretty low. Just just wants something her daughter can ride so they can ride together. It doesn't even need a shock; it will only be used riding on greenways... no dirt.

Ideally, I'd like to find a Cannondale, Trek, Specialized, but no luck finding them so far. I'm finding lots of Raleighs and Schwinns on Craigslist for under $200. I'm wondering if a Raleigh or Schwinn would be okay if it had Shimano or Sram derailleurs? I don't want to get her a bike that doesn't shift properly. Any suggestions?

Schwinn -- No way.

Raleigh (at least used to be) is a decent brand.

As you mentioned, it's the components that make most of the difference on these low-end bikes.

There's nothing "wrong" with the low end components, but they tend to go out of tune quicker, aren't as rigid, etc.

Keep checking CL -- it's fall and people are cleaning out the garage.

Current Schwinn is essentially a wal-mart bike, with a few exceptions mostly on the road side. Raleigh is still a bike shop bike, albeit low-end for most of those $200 jobs your finding on c-list. Keep looking for something in your price range, and add Giant, Fuji, and Gary Fisher to your list of decent major bike makers for the used market you are in.

Shimano or SRAM doesn't mean much by itself - both companies, and especially Shimano, make everything from Wal-mart level junk to UCI World Cup level components. For your just riding around purposes, try to find something X5 or higher (x7, x9) if SRAM, and Deore, LX, SLX, or XT if shimano. Modern mountain component groups are 10 and 11 speed now, so there should be some deals on perfectly functional 8 and 9 speed bikes. If it has 7 or fewer cogs in the back, it's either super old (not necessarily bad if you know what you're doing) or junk.

Finally, Don't get something with rear suspension in your price range. It will be junk, and a hindrance for the type of riding your friend is doing.

If you provide your local craigslist, I can find the options that meet what I described above for you.

Perd Hapley wrote:

If you provide your local craigslist, I can find the options that meet what I described above for you.

Thanks! It's Nashville, TN.

I found these.

A Gary Fisher Wahoo

A Cannondale F500 with a worn out shock. (I could probably lock out the shock with a hose clamp. It doesn't look like it has much travel anyway.)

I have five bikes and I'm bike savvy, so I can tune it and do most other simple bike mechanic work. I'm just not familiar with anything other than drop bar road or racing bikes.

That Wahoo is just about perfect if it fits. How tall is your friends daughter?

Also, found this rockhopper

http://nashville.craigslist.org/bik/4702695404.html

And this diamondback from when diamondback was ok

http://nashville.craigslist.org/bik/4726491323.html

There's also this giant, with a child carrier, it's a good bike, just have to remove the carrier if she doesn't want it, maybe you can sell it and get some cash back.

http://nashville.craigslist.org/bik/4728549262.html

I would stay away from cannondale mtb of that era. Headshok is not easy to work on or find replacement parts for, plus they had a reputation for cracking near the head tube. In general, rigid is probably better for the riding your friend wants to do.

Her mom says she's 5'6".

Oh. This was just listed. It's perfect. 2010 Trek 7100 SRAM 3.0 components. Adjustable RST shock. Used back and forth to campus by a college professor. He's asking $200. That seems fair.

http://nashville.craigslist.org/bik/4717688722.html

Ughh, please stear her clear of hybrid bikes. They are the worst.

The riding position is far too upright, with the handlebars close to your chest. Supposedly this is easier on your back but I find it to be uncomfortable. This is also an inefficient position for pedaling, and the cushy suspension robs pedaling power and adds weight without adding much comfort. The seats are also designed for wide butts and will chafe you unless you're a fatty.

The worst part is that it is very easy to endo (fly over the handlebars) on these bikes. In a quick stop an inexperienced rider will typically clamp down on the brakes without shifting their weight. Hybrids have strong mountain-bike style cantilever brakes that easily lock up, throwing your weight forward. The cushy front suspension then dives down, and you quickly get launched forward from your high seating position. The newbie rider will then forswear off bikes for a while.

Anything else would be better. Mountain bikes are slow on the road but used ones are at least cheap and plentiful. The best would be a suspension-free commuter bike, a cyclocross style bike, or an old dutch-style bike. Lots of places restore and sell old dutch-style bikes for one or two hundred dollars.